Northwest Dive Club

I got a shot of this guy at Cove 2 last Sunday. He was about 14 inches long, my ID is Red Irish Lord. I cannot find the whisker-like things on his face, head, and back in the book photos I have. Are they normal or parasites?

Parasites. By being very slow and careful I was able to actually groom one once and remove a few. It was a fun experience. I expect to set up a cleaning station soon.

Those are fish leaches, Disgusting little creatures. Surprising to see so many on one fish. Doesn't bode well for him or her if they get much thicker. At some point they will overwhelm his system and he may not survive.